Life, 1928-02-02 · page 8 of 38
Life — February 2, 1928 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine page satirizes a **Nicaraguan election** during the era of American interventionism in Central America. The "Movie Plot" section mocks the predictable nature of the conflict: Pedro Pinto (the "Arch-Traitor") is losing to Manuel Mango (the "True Patriot"), with American forces backing the preferred candidate. The humor targets how such elections played out like scripted films—the outcome predetermined, the dialogue stilted ("HA, HA, HA!"). References to an "armed camp," soldiers, and Armadillo as Mango's ward suggest American military involvement ensuring the "correct" winner. The top cartoon shows a society matron exhausted from endorsing consumer products—satirizing celebrity endorsement culture and commercialism. The bottom right depicts a child asking why the French burned Jonah's ark—a non-sequitur joke on historical absurdity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Society Matron: Oh, I'm exhausted with work! I've just endorsed five toilet soaps, three brands of toothpaste, and a new type of mattress. Movie Plot T is Election Day in Nicaragua. The forces of good seem hope- lessly outnumbered. Already Nica- raguans have cast thousands upon thousands of ballots for the Arch- Traitor to His Country. The True Patriot has but a handful of votes. Things seem to be in a pretty bad way. Manuel Mango, the True Pa- triot, is seen on his knees in prayer. Subtitle: “Dear Gop, Can Notu- 1nG Be Done to Save tue Day?” At Treo Up at THE OFFICE Flash to headquarters of the enc- my. Pedro Pinto, the Arch-Traitor, is discovered gloating. He picks up the latest election returns: “For Pinto, 52,867; for Mango, 132.” You can sce the thing is practically settled. Ah, but wait! Pinto gloats some more for a couple of hundred feet of film, then says, in a Subtitle: “HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!" Flash to an armed camp. Men in uniform hastily mounting. One man lays aside clean messkit. Comrade substitutes his own, unwashed. (Comic interest.) Flash of little Armadillo Aquittarius kissing grizzled Sergt. Mike Casey. (Note to casting director: Pick out a sergeant who doesn’t grizzle too obvi- ously.) Casey, via Subtitle: “Courace, Litrte Cotteen, Sure anv Bepap, Mixe Casey Witt Save tHe Day rur Your Brotn av A Guarpian.” That shows that Armadillo is the ward of Mango. In fact, she is the only ward he con- trols in all Nicaragua. Troops mount and are off. Kloppity- klop of horses’ hoofs. Back to Pinto headquarters. Two minutes until the polling booths close. Score now: “For Pinto, 118,932; for Mango, 218,” Pinto’s campaign manager produces stop-watch. Subtitle: “Two Seconps to Go, Cuter! One anv One-Firtu! Looxs Like We've Cincnep It! Ove. rirtH oF a Sec—My Gop! Here Come tue Unitep Srates My- Rings!” Fadeout of Armadillo in arms of ex-Sergt. Casey, now Secretary of State, while President Manuel Man- go beams approvingly. Subtitle: Ann Tuvs Div Ova Brave Laps in Kuaxt (Marines haven’t worn khaki for years, if they ever did, but it sounds well) Ensunr A Free Evection ano Barina Joy vo THE Hearts or Our Latin Cots. ins Wuo Truty Love Tueir Layo. T. B. A Voice from the Swamps [°VE is like Malaria (Anopheles-injected) : You have a spell, And then you're well, And then you're reinfected. F you can't find it in the diction- ary, the atlas or the Encyclopedia Britannica, don’t be discouraged. Ask for it at the drug store. “Mother, why did the French burn Jonah's ark?” comicbooks.com